Widely regarded as the cultural capital of India, Kolkata emerged from three small fishing villages to become the centre of modern Indian society and the seat of British East Indian trade in the early 20th century. Following Indian Independence in 1947, the City fell into economic and social decline until its resurgence four decades later in the 1990’s. Much of its greatest architecture can still be found from that time however, with several striking contributions of Gothic and Art Deco buildings found throughout the city.

Check out the must-see architecture in India here, and Kolkata’s #mustseearchitecture below.

 

Victoria Memorial Hall

A post shared by Joshua Leas Hill (@joshua_leas) on May 7, 2018 at 11:40am PDT

Architect: William Emerson
Built: 1906-1921
Type: Museum Library
Style: Indo-Saracenic Revival
Address: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm daily
Cost: 500 ₹ ($8 US)
Website: www.victoriamemorial-cal.org

 

St. Paul’s Cathedral

A post shared by Tawfique Ahmed Anik (アーニク衛星) (@tawfique_anik) on Jul 4, 2018 at 12:22pm PDT

Architect: William Nairn Forbes
Built: 1847
Type: Museum Library
Style: Gothic Revival
Address: Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India
Open to the Public: Yes

 

Marble Palace

A post shared by Sudakshina Paul (@doodlesyndrome_sudz) on Jan 1, 2017 at 12:32am PST

Builder: Raja Rajendra Mullick
Built: 1835
Type: Mansion
Style: Neoclassical
Address: 46, Muktaram Babu Street, Kolkata 700007
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:00am – 4:00pm daily
Cost: Free

 

Kolkata High Court

A post shared by The Best of Bengal. Ad-free (@onlyinbengal) on Sep 12, 2015 at 10:26pm PDT

Architect: Walter Granville
Built: 1862
Type: Civic
Style: Neo-Gothic
Address: 3, Esplanade Row West, BBD Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday
Website: www.calcuttahighcourt.gov.in/

 

Kolkata Town Hall

A post shared by Jesse Rockwell (@jesse_rockwell) on Oct 31, 2017 at 3:52am PDT

Architect: Maj.-Gen. John Garstin
Built: 1813
Type: Civic
Style: Roman Doric
Address: 4, Esplanade Row (West), Kolkata – 700001
Open to the Public: Yes

 

Belvedere Estate

A post shared by Sarbajit Mitra (@hutton364) on May 3, 2017 at 1:08am PDT

Built: 18th century
Type: National Library
Address: Woodland Rd, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.nationallibrary.gov.in/

 

Rabindra Bharati Museum

A post shared by Jure F. (@instacaffeine) on Aug 3, 2017 at 8:00am PDT

Built: 18th century
Type: University
Address: Ganesh Talkies, 267, Rabindra Sarani, Singhi Bagan, Jorasanko, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:30am – 5:00pm daily. Closed Mondays
Website: http://111.118.215.254/~avuet4m5/rbu/

Built: 18th century
Type: University
Address: Ganesh Talkies, 267, Rabindra Sarani, Singhi Bagan, Jorasanko, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:30am - 5:00pm daily. Closed Mondays
Website: http://111.118.215.254/~avuet4m5/rbu/

Built: 18th century
Type: National Library
Address: Woodland Rd, Alipore, Kolkata, West Bengal 700027, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Website: www.nationallibrary.gov.in/

Architect: Maj.-Gen. John Garstin
Built: 1813
Type: Civic
Style: Roman Doric
Address: 4, Esplanade Row (West), Kolkata - 700001
Open to the Public: Yes

Architect: Walter Granville
Built: 1862
Type: Civic
Style: Neo-Gothic
Address: 3, Esplanade Row West, BBD Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday
Website: www.calcuttahighcourt.gov.in/

Builder: Raja Rajendra Mullick
Built: 1835
Type: Mansion
Style: Neoclassical
Address: 46, Muktaram Babu Street, Kolkata 700007
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm daily
Cost: Free

Architect: William Nairn Forbes
Built: 1847
Type: Museum Library
Style: Gothic Revival
Address: Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India
Open to the Public: Yes

Architect: William Emerson
Built: 1906-1921
Type: Museum Library
Style: Indo-Saracenic Revival
Address: Victoria Memorial Hall, 1, Queens Way, Kolkata, West Bengal 700071, India
Open to the Public: Yes
Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm daily
Cost: 500 ₹ ($8 US)
Website: www.victoriamemorial-cal.org